“If there are enough David’s in the world, we can win.” S. David Freeman in “Who Killed the Electric Car?”
I’m switching gears this week and watched a documentary that still has momentum, “Who Killed the Electric Car?” If you have a real passion for alternative energy/technology/environment, then you must watch this movie.
The drama begins by telling us that the number one flaw of cars is smog – one of the top environmental problems in California. So in 1990, the state passed a zero emissions mandate, which in essence, said that some cars on the road should have zero emissions, and each year the number of zero emissions cars should grow. Enter the EV1 (electric vehicle) from GM.
Over the next few years, the EV1 was introduced in California followed by several other electric vehicles, while at the same time, GM along with other auto manufacturers sued California to repeal the law. Now why would a company invest billions of dollars into new technology and then try to sabotage its own success with lawsuits and a covert grassroots PR campaign? There are varying opinions on this but ultimately it worked, as by 2001 or so, every electric vehicle was repossessed and ultimately destroyed. The car companies placed the blame on lack of consumer demand, which was ironically, a “loop-hole” in the zero emissions mandate. In simplified terms, if there was no consumer demand then the law would be repealed.
I don’t have the space to go into details of what transpired, but there were several conspiracies set forth as to who was the culprit of the killing of the electric car.Read More
Less than a week away from the 2009 National Biodiesel Conference & Expo, Feb. 1-4, in San Francisco!
# Racecar Driver for a Day! – Sunday, Feb. 1
In addition, starting this Saturday, Jan. 31st, the conference gets a jumpstart a day early as the 
And our own Cindy Zimmerman will be there bringing you all the important events as they happen. If you can’t attend, be sure to check out all the activities as Cindy talks to the movers and shakers of the biodiesel world. Check it out on the 
Crescent Oil is advancing alternative fuel infrastructure through the recent purchase of Dresser Wayne Ovation® iX™ fuel dispensers and the Fusion™ Universal Site Controller. The fuel supplier plans to implement more than 600 new dispensers throughout its more than 150 retail locations across the Midwestern United States. As a result, the sites will be able to sell a wide range of ethanol fuel blends and streamline operations with improved payment security and remote management.
Ethanol industry leaders are looking forward to working with the Obama administration on the creation of a “clean energy economy,” as outlined in the president’s “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan.” This edition of “The Ethanol Report” features comments from 
Obama used the forum to explain how he believes his “American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan” will jump-start the economy.
Eastern Kentucky University has teamed up with energy research and defense manufacturing firm General Atomics to look at the potential to develop cellulose-based biodiesel.
A Chicago school bus company owner, who was the first in the country to switch 90 percent of his 2,000 bus fleet to biodiesel, is using a modified version of the green-fueled kid-hauler to spread the gospel of biodiesel.
There’s a new person in charge of the federal agency in charge of keeping the environment clean, and thus, a friend to the clean, renewable energy field.
And the National Biodiesel Board seems pretty pleased with the pick:
Massachusetts’ governor wants his state to significantly step up its wind energy efforts over the next decade.
New York’s governor wants to get rid of a tax credit for alternative fuels and fuel cells, while keeping a much more expensive credit for a very dirty form of diesel.